94 xj possessed

[WhiteDevil1311]

So last week I got great help from XJ and another gent on here about the darn serp belt and the hidden bolt. All went well got it on and off within 20 minutes saturday morning, drove 200 mile round trip for camping/fishing weekend last weekend. I came back sunday.

MOnday morning I go to work, I get about 60 yards away and a god awful grinding noise starts, noticed it hill climbing with normal acceleration. I got some 85w140 lucas oil for the front diff as I noticed a DS seal leaking at the hub area. It was down 1/2 qt so I filled it up, no metal looked relatively decent, rear was the color of tar so I changed the rear lube out.

I am thinking since this is only when I start to drive it and usually on a hill or under more then normal gas pedal load that its a passenger side front u joint...How do I tell if its crap or not? there is no movement in the caps at all or in the u joint. again no metal in the D30 front diff.

Please help, I know how to do the work but again first straight axle 4x4 Ive had the others were CV axled.

Thanks in advance
Its a 94 i6 4x4

[NW99XJ]

The u-joint will have movement if its gone bad.
Might be the unit bearing (wheel bearing)
To check that, get the wheel/tire off the ground, and grab it on opposite sides,
Work it back and forth from the 6-o-clock and the 12-o-clock positions, and if you have play, then the bearing is bad.
NOTE: not all bearing that go bad will have play that can be noticed by mere man power.
Rotating it while listening for noise... if you hear any grinding noise.... its bad.

[WhiteDevil1311]

Ok cool. So ball joint test reveals possible bad bearing/hub. Sweet. I gotta grab a new floor jack as I dont trust the one I got for the grand prix to get the xj up high enough. Should of kept my hilift. Youve been a big help so far thanks alot brother I greatly appreciate it. Now if I have to replace my seal as I know I do im going to just rebuild the front end. The grind bothers me due to it being very intermittent and happens only when I leave a dead stop in the mornings and once when I leave work. Mornings usually 3-5 times itll grind. It ran great the road trip it took. Maintained 45-60 psi the whole way on the rotella oil and got nearly 140 mikes out of maybe an 8th a tank. Im happy as a fat chick at a buffet with this brand vehicle.

[NW99XJ]

The 4.0L are a notoriously great engine, and if taken care of properly, they'll run forever.
The Dana 30's are the same way... they do need maintenance over the years, but are a very durable and reliable axle.
Glad to help out... if you need anything else just post up, and we'll figure it out!

[WhiteDevil1311]

Oh I plan on it. Im xj stoopid lol. The motor has alot of noise but rockers are tight pushrods are straight (have the tools from sbc modding days) bit today it sounded like the muffler was making the noise leading me to think my manifold is fubar... I dont skimp with quality nor amount of work I put into something. My 92 sblazer 4x couldnt go over 35 mph when I bought it. Next day it was running like brand new. Im anal about how my cars run.

[WhiteDevil1311]

Here is an audio file to the sound it makes at low rpm, its volume and pitch never change, youll hear it about halfway to 2/3rds the way thru, its not long just enough to get the sound Im hearing into the clip. This was in reverse backing down my driveway, I was closer to the house jog out when the sound im curious about is audible.

http://tinypic.com/m/i5yhac/1

I will get a sound file of the what I think is the bearing grind tomorrow when I drive it again.

Thanks in advance.

[4.3LXJ]

How is your oil pressure when this happens?

[WhiteDevil1311]

Right around 40psi per the guage.
Ive had rod knocks before and it doesnt seem deep toned enough for that but again that was on a SBC. If its a rod knock im kinda screwed.

[4.3LXJ]

Actually if the sound byte was accurate, it sounded more like lifters. Buuuuutttttt, I would check that flex plate if I were you

[WhiteDevil1311]

Im on that first thing tomorrow morning. I was thinking lifters as well via screwdriver and ear

[WhiteDevil1311]

The bottom end purrs not so much in the top end.

[WhiteDevil1311]

Flexplate is good. No cracks. Fasteners were tight. Its in the valve cover....

[WhiteDevil1311]

Also drained a 1/2 qt of oil added 1/2 qt atf 3 drove it for a bit last night and this morning the lifter is flowing again the noise dropped to a quieter tick. Its old school but works.

[WhiteDevil1311]

Ok. Pulled flex plate cover. All good. Pulled each plug wire and #2 disconnected the ticks stopped in the top end. Ok easy enough. Tore out the front driveshaft still had grinding so no shaft no load isnt the front driveline....ended up being the fan shroud loose at the bottom well broken. Grinding noise GONE. Now who makes strong u joints? Used to use moog and spicer back in the day with high tq and hp rwd cars just looking what works best for our xj's. Thanks

[WhiteDevil1311]

I prefer to spend the money once on the right parts not cheaping out every 4-6 months. It doesnt get ridden hard due to needing to replace a bunch of 20 year old stock parts...u joints first...

[4.3LXJ]

Moog and Spicer are still the good ones

[WhiteDevil1311]

Ok cool makes it easier then. Ill double check the part numbers when I get home tonight and order em from summit. Thanks again

[WhiteDevil1311]

Ok removed ac system less compressor and belt. Nearly all noises ceased. Runs cooler and quieter. Not sure why but ill go with it with an open ear

[WhiteDevil1311]

Im posting pics today. Very upset ay weld quality gonna just do myself. The lca went in fine used GC lca and well lets just say the lca mounts were the beginning of the damage. Sent my front yoke into the exhaust front pipe. Damage is critical

[4.3LXJ]

Did it ruin the pipe? They have a crimp in them anyway for clearance

[WhiteDevil1311]

Its toast. The yoke gouged it bad its missing metal and has a sheer lip where it ate it. Rockauto has a front pipe for 30 bucks 50 shipped. Same one they sell at the auto stores. Figure replace it since some PO hacked the exhaust system together. Looks like a snake from the side. I curse hack jobs

[4.3LXJ]

I hear ya. I hate them too

[WhiteDevil1311]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/08/14e7ae350fa64e741a589566df74c69a.jpg

[4.3LXJ]

How are your motor mounts?

[WhiteDevil1311]

They are fine. Gojng to replace but they dont flex near enough. This was when the LCA mount snapped. Ive got shock samage and a butt ton of rub burns from the tire digging in when it nose dived when I hit the brakes and went across traffic into the ditch

[WhiteDevil1311]

I tke that back. Used a floor jack to put pressure and a little push to the motor and the driver side is sheered off below the bolt. The rubber insert that is not the metal. Gonna repkace both moubts and tranny mount while im down there.

[NW99XJ]

I tke that back. Used a floor jack to put pressure and a little push to the motor and the driver side is sheered off below the bolt. The rubber insert that is not the metal. Gonna repkace both moubts and tranny mount while im down there.
Good idea.
I always recommend doing all three mounts at the same time.

[WhiteDevil1311]

Thats sacred practice to me. Its hard convincing the wife though. All she sees is $